With the Championship having a weekend off due to the international break, Leagues One and Two took the headlines. TIBS News provides an EFL review.
League One
Wimbledon fell to a 1-0 home defeat by Cambridge United as Adam May’s long-range strike proved the difference between the two sides. The loss signified a record-breaking 21st-straight game without a win a for the they missed the opportunity to climb back out of the drop zone. Cambridge meanwhile move up to 16th in the league and have all but secured their safety after promotion from League Two last season.
Sam Morsy’s first-half strike meant that Plymouth fell to a first defeat in seven games as Ipswich gave their play-off campaign some more hope. Plymouth remain fourth and comfortably in the play-off positions but will be ruing the missed chance to put pressure on the automatic promotion spots. Ipswich move to just five points behind sixth but know they will need some good fortune if they are to achieve a return to the Championship.
Cheltenham’s Alfie May couldn’t prevent Sheffield Wednesday from turning on the style and emerging 4-1 winners at Hillsborough. May had put the visitors ahead before Massimo Luongo quickly equalised. The Owls, who moved into the play-off places, took advantage of the change in momentum and three second-half goals from Lee Gregory, Jack Hunt and George Byers secured what turned out to be a comfortable three points after the nervy start.
League Two
Oldham’s survival hopes took another hit as a second-half comeback from Mansfield saw the Stags snatch a 2-1 win. Oldham, who remain three points from safety, had got off to a great start with Davis Keillor-Dunn heading them in front before Rhys Oates drew the visitors level. Substitute George Lapslie broke Oldham hearts as he tapped home a rebound in the 95th-minute to get Mansfield a huge three points in their play-off chase.
Phil Brown’s first game as Barrow manager ended in a 2-0 loss as Leyton Orient eased their relegation fears even further as they have now created a double-digit points gap over the bottom two in Oldham and Scunthorpe. Ruel Sotiriou was dangerous all game for Orient and, after Paul Smyth had put the hosts ahead, secured the points with his sixth goal in his last seven games. Barrow stay in a position of danger but still have a good chance of survival as they remain six points clear of relegation.
Tranmere were shocked at Colchester as Junior Tchamadeu’s 95th-minute winner secured a huge three points for the home side’s survival hopes. Colchester keeper Shamal George had kept his side in the game following some excellent saves before Tchamadeu’s shot from range sparked huge celebrations on the sidelines and in the stands. Tranmere fall to seventh place as a result and are in danger of missing out on the play-offs after looking on course for automatic promotion not even a month ago.
By Joshua Stewart
